Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-10-21
FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
WHEAT IN AMERICA.

WHEAT IN AMERICA.
Concerning the introduction OF wheat
in to America, reliable information is OBJ
tainebe. 1t may be difficult in the preson.
to realize the fact tina: wheat WAS at one
time unknown in America. Yet prior TO
the discovery of this continent by Col
umbus there was no cereal in America
approaching in nature to the wheat plant.
1t was not until 1880 that wheat found
its way into Mexico, and then only by
chance. A slave of Cortez foand few
grains of wheat in a parcel of rice, and
showed them to his master, who ordered
them to be planted. The result showed
that wheat would thrive we'll on Mexican
soil, and to-day one of the finest wheat
valleys in the world is near the Mexican
capital. From Mexico the cereal found
its pay to Peru. Marie D'Escoar, wife of
Don Diego de Chauves, carried few
grains to Lima, which were planted, the
entire product being used for seed for
several successive crops. At Quito, Ecua-
dor, a monk of the order of st. Francis,
named Era Jodosi Bike, introduced a
new cereal, and it is said that the jar
which contained the seed is still preserv
ed By the monks of Quito. Wheat was in
troduced into the present limits of the
United States contemporaneously with
settlement of the country ty the English
and other European settlers.
FLOWERS OUT OF SEASON.
check in the growth of trees, caused
by disease, injury in trsnsplanting, in
sect enemies. or unfavorahle weather,
says Vick's Magazine, often give rise to
flowers being produced out of season.
And again a mora than ordinarily
Gus growth will produce second crop of
flowers. Many plants form their flower
buds early in the season, and the growth
of tho tree may be checked by drought
or other causes. Then later on, a more
favorable turn of weather Will force a
second growth, and occasionally force
upon the flower buds that were formed
earlier. 1t is quite possible, too, that a
second series of flower buds may be
formed that will open later in the season
than those formed eaIlier. This will, if
! true, explain many examples apparently
not to be explained in other ways. The
small spring Towering plants, like the
strawberry, violet and hepatica, form the
buds for the coming season in the sum-
mer and fall, and few fine days will
! force them into bloom before their sea-
son. Then, again, the growth of such
plants may be retarded or a plant that
started from seed late in the season will
not fully perfect flower buds until spring.
Such plants will bloom later in the season
than usual, There are many things in
nature not yet understood, and every
gardener can do his share toward making
| them palmer by observing aay unusual
| action in the plants under his charge and
seeking an explain alton. Too often these
| variations are looked upon as going out
side the field of horticulture and into
that of the botanist. There should be no
distinction between the two, both are
working In the same field, and when
both work together more systematically,
more valuable results will be obtained.
NEW BLEACHING PROCESS.
Messrs. jacobson Brothers of Berlin,
are stated to have discovered a new pro-
cess for bleaching vegetable and animal
| fbers which is likely to prove of great
utility. Hitherto tbs use of oxygenated
water for bleaching purposes has been
very limited, as this product soon loses
its efficacy if carried to any great dis
| lance. The inventors found that oxygen
ated water can, in most instances be re-
placed with advantage by baths obtained
by adding peroxide or barium to the So
luton of certain salts. The proxide of
barium is decomposed very slowly in the
water and throws off oxygen. These
! decolorirg properties impaired 20 the
saline solutions are to a considerable ex-
tent, Independent of the nature of the
salts, and the most favorable results are
obtained with alkaline slicates, the chic
ride of ammonium, and the alkaline
| borates. The chloride of magnesium
and phosphate of soda act less powerful
ly, and still less the sulphates. The pro-
portional weight of the salts, and the
water i'll which they are dissolved, vary
considerably, but a mixture of one part
peroxide of barium, one part Of silicate
of soda, and one hundred parts of water
is sufficient in most instances. more
| concentrated solution may be employed
for bleaching vegetable hbers, such as
linen, jute, rags, paper pulp, etc, but in
| the case of animal fiber stronger pro-
portion of silicate might act prejudicial-
ly owing to the alkah which is diseDgaged
For jute and linen the process requires
one or two days. The peroxide of barium
may be mixed With the silicate solution,
or a mixture of pulyerized peroxide
barium and silicate may be dissolved in
water.